City of Whittlesea: Business Relocation and Growth Program Grants (Australia)

The primary objective is to increase employment for their residents in their preferred target industries.

The Business Relocation and Growth Program aims to provide support to businesses looking to establish and/or grow their presence in the City of Whittlesea. The range of initiatives offered are designed to contribute toward building a prosperous and inclusive economy for all.

Categories

• Applicants can apply for funding under one of the following categories;
  • Business expansion – Support existing City of Whittlesea businesses to move into larger premises, or expand operations, increase employment opportunities and/or increase their product/service offering,
  • Capital investment – Support to invest in capital machinery or improvements, or
  • Relocation or expansion to City of Whittlesea – Support for businesses to expand into or relocate to the City of Whittlesea.

Funding Information

• Applications may be applied for from $10,000 through to $40,000.

What can be funded?

• Business expansion
  • Support for existing City of Whittlesea businesses in the preferred target industries to;
    • New or increased ongoing employment opportunities for City of Whittlesea residents for a minimum of nine months and,
    • Move into larger premises and/or,
    • Expand operations and/or,
    • Increase their product/service offering and/or,
    • Upskill existing staff through recognised training and increase their wage reflective of this (by no less than 10% and not less than the average FTE wage in City of Whittlesea) and/or
    • Support for local business (amount spent, not less than 10% of annual turnover) and/or
    • Implementation of a circular economy plan, for example, recycling and reusing materials.
• Capital investment
  • Support for existing City of Whittlesea businesses in the preferred target industries to;
    • New or increased ongoing employment opportunities for City of Whittlesea residents for a minimum of nine months and,
    • Invest in capital machinery or improvements to expand operations and/or,
    • Increase their product/service offering and/or
    • Upskill existing staff through recognised training and increase their wage reflective of this (by no less than 10% and not less than the average FTE wage in City of Whittlesea) and/or,
    • Support for local business (amount spent, not less than 10% of annual turnover) and/or
    • Implementation of a circular economy plan, for example, recycling and reusing materials.
• Relocation or expansion to City of Whittlesea
  • Support for existing businesses in the preferred target industries, currently operating in another local government area, to expand into or relocate to the City of Whittlesea to take advantage of their rapid growth and development and increased employment opportunities.
    • New or increased ongoing employment opportunities for City of Whittlesea residents for a minimum of nine months and,
    • Relocate an existing business to the City of Whittlesea,
    • Establish a business in the City of Whittlesea,
    • Support for local business (amount spent, not less than 10% of annual turnover) and/or
    • Implementation of a circular economy plan, for example, recycling and reusing materials.

Eligibility Criteria

• The City of Whittlesea Business Relocation & Growth Program is designed to assist medium to large sized businesses. To be eligible for funding, applicants must:
  • Be the owner or tenant named on an existing or pending lease agreement (not subletting space from another business)
  • Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Provide evidence of insurance including certificate of currency (public liability, professional indemnity, or any other relevant insurances).
  • Be able to demonstrate business financial viability
  • Be a business in one of the identified preferred target industries(exceptions may apply if the application demonstrates a significant employment outcome)
  • Have a minimum of 5 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) employees
  • Provide increased employment opportunities for residents in the City of Whittlesea for a minimum of nine months
  • Not have an outstanding debt to City of Whittlesea

Ineligibility Criteria

• Businesses that will not be eligible to be assessed for consideration under this BRGP include:
  • An employee of the City of  Whittlesea operating a business
  • Businesses that incur their primary revenue relating to sales to consumers of alcohol, tobacco and tobacco related products i.e., e cigarettes, shisha, hookahs and pipes, gambling, and electronic gaming machines
  • Businesses that have been trading less than 12 months or have not yet opened
  • Businesses that have less than 12 months remaining on their current lease at the time of submitting an application
  • Any business that does not hold all relevant permits and licenses to trade in the City of Whittlesea this includes but is not restricted to, building, and planning permits, health and liquor licenses and any other statutory permits or licenses that are required for business to operate legally.
  • Businesses that have outstanding acquittals, debts, or financial disputes with the City of Whittlesea.

For more information, visit City of Whittlesea.